# MAL-2026-10760: Malicious code in abseil-py (PyPI)


- **Type:** Malicious package
- **Package:** `abseil-py` (PyPI)
- **Published:** 16 Jul 2026

## What is MAL-2026-10760?

MAL-2026-10760 is a malicious package in abseil-py, published on 16 Jul 2026. 

### Official description

Distribution name `abseil-py` name-squats Google's widely-used `absl-py` (Abseil Python common libraries); the import name `abseil_py` also differs from the legitimate `absl` module. During `bdist_wheel`, setup.py walks the parent-process chain via psutil and matches process names against a hardcoded list of AI coding agent markers (claude-code, codex, cursor, gemini, grok, copilot, aider, opencode, qwen, amazon-q). On a match, `_report()` POSTs a JSON payload containing the package name, event, matched agent label, and timestamp to the hardcoded endpoint `https://vero-research.com/` using `urllib.request.urlopen` with a spoofed browser User-Agent. The __init__ prints a 'research study' disclaimer only after installation has already occurred and the beacon has fired. The behavior transmits information about the installer's environment (which AI coding tool triggered the install) to an author-controlled third-party endpoint without prior disclosure or opt-out.

Installing the package or importing the module exfiltrates basic information about the host, and the package has no other purpose.

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Category: PROBABLY_PENTEST - Packages looking like typical pentest packages, but also anything that looks like testing, exploring pre-prepared kits, research & co, with clearly low-harm possibilities.

Campaign: GENERIC-standard-pypi-install-pentest

Reasons (based on the campaign):

 - The package contains code to exfiltrate basic data from the system, like IP or username. It has a limited risk.

 - The package overrides the install command in setup.py to execute malicious code during installation.

## What should I do about MAL-2026-10760?

Remove the package from your dependencies and lockfiles, then rotate any secrets on machines where it was installed.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
MAL-2026-10760 is a malicious package: abseil-py (PyPI). Every version was published to cause harm.

Task:
1. Search this repository's dependency manifests and lockfiles for the package, including transitive dependencies.
2. If it is present, remove it, regenerate the lockfile with the project's package manager, and replace whatever it was used for.
3. List any CI runners, developer machines or containers that installed it, so their secrets can be rotated.
4. If the package is not used anywhere, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10760/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10760/index.md)
```

## Sources

- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/MAL-2026-10760

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/MAL-2026-10760/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.